[COLOR="DarkRed"]Distance between res and batter heads becomes an issue as well Have done a lotta conversions of marhcing toms to bass drums - and once that distance gets under 12" the res head choice becomes very important - because there's gonna be a lotta bounceback insde that shell over such a short distance (the air dsplacement is really gonna push that res head) Conversely - there's a point when the distance becomes so great that the entire dynamic between batter and res is LOST For example when people turn a 16x16 Ft on its side for a jungle conversion - that's a very silly ratio of diameter to depth for a bass drum - it gains nuthn' Or when headbanger guitar2duuuuuuudes insist on an extra deep bass drum - like 20" deep - That may look BIG and baaaad - but again - more than anything it's just stooooooopid because on order to get that res head-batter head dynamic going a 20" deep bass drum would need to be a minimum of a 28" diameter (looks soooo big daddy !!! but eh - it ain't performing much the way its s'pose'ta)[/COLOR]

Again if the calculations are right, a 24 x 8 (cap. 3625.344) is a little larger than a 16 x 16 FT (cap.3222.528). Check out old BDs. Old marching BDs could be thinner at times and some were youth sizes, so the size you mentioned may already have been used at some time. But back then probably a little larger diameter than what you’re considering.

One other thing, It seems to me that the contemporary sized BDs actually were developed for the same reason that you mention, portability. Those big old shallow shelled drums were cumbersome, and so they made deeper shells with smaller diameters to get a similar large sound out of a more “compact” style drum. Going smaller yet, and using contemporary diameters will shrink the drums internal capacity even more.

I have a 9x26 Slingerland marching bass that I impulse bought a few years ago, and--while I haven't recorded it or played out with it at all, so my opinion is based on just wanking around at home--it does sound great. As has already been stated, it seems to me that--on the big shallow drums--without hitting too hard they have a real deep sound without being overwhelming. Really laying into it is enough to scare the neighbors, though.

Troy

I love my 20X8 Pearl Rhythm Traveler bass. I just wished I could find a case to fit it.

[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/SRT80/newwrap1-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/SRT80/newwrap2.jpg[/IMG]

My local drum guy had just enough gold glass glitter (not sparkle) for these drums. He also plugged the old tom mount holes. I have some slingerland claws on there, in this picture, but they are too big. I switched back to the original pearl claws as they are smaller and look better. Mesh head on the snare cause I'm still waiting on a bunch of different heads to come in the mail to try out. I have remo powerstroke 3 on the batter with a remo muffl ring. I actually put a pearl mesh head on the front side and get a nice thump. I actually ended up ordering a white mesh from billy blast to use for the front. I'm very pleased with the sound of the kick.

Gonna use this setup for traditional country/rockabilly. No toms, just snare and bass. Tryin' to decide on a good crash/ride.

My drum guy also has a 28x8 shell that he was gonna make a woofer out of. He offered it to me but I ain't to thrilled on a 28" drum. If it was maybe a 22, I'd give it a try.

Steve

Ginger Baker used 11x 20 and 11x22 with Cream.Punchy and loud.

Steve B

good thread. I've always liked the sound of a shallower drum (and thought the 20x20 kicks were kinda silly) and now I understand why a little better.

SRT, I played around with the rhythm traveler when I was working at GC a while back, pretty cool sounding kick. Smart taking those toms out of the picture too...don't have much going for them besides portability.

A 20" Nomad Multifit case would probably work. And if it doesn't work as purchased, it would be a piece of cake to cut it down to the right depth.

I know most of the discussion in this thread is a bit stale, but I can't help commenting on 510's posts... If there are two drums of different diameters and different depth, but similar volume (space inside, not loudness), they won't sound the same. They'll still have different sized heads, and the size of a head has a huge bearing on a drum's resonant frequency. He mentioned a deep 16" drum sounding similar to a shallow 28". That's not the case.